Diepsloot still 'volatile'

2004-07-06 16:07

Johannesburg - A false rumour that Diepsloot residents were to be relocated to Brits, north of Pretoria, sparked two days of violent protests, the Gauteng housing MEC said on Tuesday.

"I wish to assure people affected by this fictitious rumour that the Gauteng provincial government and the City of Johannesburg have at no stage contemplated to move Diepsloot residents to Brits," MEC Nomvula Mokonyane said.

She dismissed the rumours as "incorrect and misleading".

"If there was any decision of this nature, as claimed by those fuelling violence, we would have widely consulted and discussed the matter with people of Diepsloot and interested parties," Mokonyane said.

Residents of Diepsloot - partly an informal settlement, partly proper housing - began protests on Monday, claiming local councillor Sarafina Mulaudzi had recently informed them they would be moved to Brits on July 14.

The community was moved to Diepsloot, north west of Johannesburg, in 2000 from Alexandra, Johannesburg, after the Jukskei River flooded.

Arrests

Police had arrested 19 people who would face charges of arson and public violence.

Inspector Percy Morokane said seven people were arrested on Monday afternoon and another 10 on Monday evening.

Two more people were arrested on Tuesday morning after a mass meeting was held to address the concerns of the community.

"As they were dispersing the residents started throwing stones at the police," Morokane said. The two were arrested soon afterwards.

Protesters set fire to two municipal buildings on Monday.

Residents on Tuesday demanded the release of 19 people who were arrested.

"We want them back today," one resident shouted at the police.

"Those people are our parents. Some of them are children who go to school," another resident said.

The situation remained volatile on Tuesday, with a large number of community members running along the R511 between Johannesburg and Pretoria. They also badly damaged a 702 radio news vehicle during the stoning.

Senior police officers, including Gauteng police deputy commissioner Bushie Engelbrecht, arrived in the township on Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to calm the situation down.

A meeting was scheduled for later on Tuesday afternoon between the community and the city council.

- SAPA